Adjustable rotary switch



R. E. KANITZ ADJUSTABLE ROTARY SWITCH Feb. 17, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed mm 25. 1968 w HUMP.

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FIG. I

INVENTOR ROY E. KANITZ BY fiat/f4 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 17,1970

IE.KVANITZ 3,496,313

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY SWITCH Filed March 25, I968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORROY E. KANITZ ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,496,313 ADJUSTABLE ROTARY SWITCH Roy E. Kanitz,Williamsville, N.Y., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York,N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 715,886Int. Cl. H01h 19/58 US. 'Cl. 20011 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis disclosure describes an adjustable rotary switch suitable for usewith a power filing cabinet for storing records in separate groupswherein the groups are movable through a continuous orbit of travel. Theswitch comprises a sprocket, a commutator disc, and a brush holdergenerally aligned about the axis of a stud. In addition, a guide blockbracket is attached to the commutator disc and coacts with a guide blockattached to the sprocket so as to vary the lateral location of thecommutator disc with respect to the brush holder. There are variousconducting regions on the face of the commutator disc that faces thebrush holder. These regions co-act with brushes mounted in the brushholder. Predetermined portions of the conducting regions are separatedby a V- shaped outwardly extending region of an insulating material. Themovement of the commutator disc with respect to the brush holder by theguide blockguide block bracket co-action varies the length of time ittakes for a brush to pass over the V-shaped insulating region or stopspace. In this manner, the period of time that a brush resides in thestop space while it is stopping is varied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to switches suitablefor use with filing cabinets used to store groups of records wherein thegroups are movable through a continuous orbit of travel. In general, acontinuous orbit of travel filing cabinet includes a continuous loopmechanism, such as a conveyor, that is driven by a motor. The groups ofrecords to be stored are attached to the conveyor by any suitable meanssuch as by lying on trays. The conveyor can move in a horizontal or avertical plane, however, it preferably moves in a vertical plane.

Associated with the driving motor is a rotary switch of the type hereindisclosed that determines the direction of rotation of the motor when itis desired to move a remote tray from a stopped position to the trayaccess open ing in the filing cabinet. That is, because the trays are ona continuous loop conveyor they can be moved in either direction toreach the access opening. For rapid response, it is desirable that thedistance moved be the shortest possible distance. The rotary switchassociated with the driving motor performs this function.

A simple bi-directional, rotary switch will not perform the foregoingfunction because certain operational parameters vary to causemisalignment between the trays and the access opening when a tray isdelivered to the opening. For example, variations occur betweensimulated loads used at the factory when preliminary adjustments aremade and loads provided by the customer. In addition, as the conveyorand its associated mechanism is used it becomes less tight, making for agreater ease of movement. In either case the coasting factor varies.That is, there is a point at which the driving motor must be turned oif,thereafter, the trays coast a short distance until their momentumreduces to zero. And, this coasting factor varies because of loadvariations and age as previously discussed.

The prior art has attempted to solve the variable coasting problem byproviding a variable stop space between the conductors of the rotaryswitches. One prior art switch utilizing this approach to solve theproblem is described in US. Patent 3,198,894 issued to Newton J. Krug.While that patent discloses a switch, somewhat similar to thisinvention, for aligning a filing cabinet system so that the cabinetstrays come to rest in alignment with the access opening in the cabinet,it has certain disadvantages. Specifically, the Krug switch is diflicultto adjust. To be adjusted the switch requires loosening a set screw andmoving a worm screw to vary the alignment between a pair of discs, andthe tightening of the set screw. In addition, the screws are located ina rather limited space and are adjusted with an Allen wrench. Hence, theswitch is ditficult to adjust for various reasons and requires aplurality of specialized parts. Moreover, the switch structure per se israther complicated.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved rotary switch suitable for use with a continuous orbit oftravel filing cabinet.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a new and improvedrotary switch that is uncomplicated and, therefore, easy to adjust.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedrotary switch that is uncomplicated, inexpensive, and suitable for usewith a continuous orbit of travel filing cabinet to align a cabinet traywith the access opening in the cabinet when the tray comes to rest atthe opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a principle of thisinvention a new and improved rotary switch suitable for use with acontinuous orbit of travel filing cabinet is provided. The switchgenerally comprises a commutator disc having conductors on one side.Mounted adjacent to the commutator disc is a brush holder. Thecommutator disc and the brush holder are axially aligned about a studfor rotation with respect to each other. In addition, means are providedfor laterally moving the commutator disc with respect to the brushholder.

In accordance with a further principle of this invention, the means formoving the commutator disc with respect to the brush holder includes aguide block bracket attached to the commutator disc about the stud.Mounted on the stud is a sprocket and attached to the sprocket is aguide block. The commutator disc and the guide block bracket have anaxis that can be moved with respect to the axis of the stud and theother elements. The stud and the other elements having a fixed axis.Hence, the commutator disc is movable with respect to the brush holderso as to vary the location of the brushes held by the brush holder withrespect to the commutator disc. The movement is to various fixedpositions.

In accordance with still another principle of the invention, generallyring-shaped conductors are located on the face of the commutator discfacing the brushes and, certain portions of the conductors are separatedby an outwardly extending V-shaped insulating region. Therefore, as thecommutator disc is moved with respect to the brush holder, the point atwhich the brushes passing over the V- shaped insulating region startinto the insulating region is varied. In this manner, an alignmentcontrol is provided. More specifically, when a particular brush reachesthe V-shape-d insultaing region the motor causing tray movement shutsoff and the desired tray coasts into position with the access opening inthe cabinet. However, the amount of coasting varies with tray load andother factors. The ability to vary the brush-V-shaped insulating regioncontact point varies the motor turn of point to allow more or lesscoasting as is necessary for a particular machine when it carries aparticular load. Hence, the invention provides an apparatus .for.aligning the. trays 'with the.

access opening in the filing cabinet regardless of load or otherfactors.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a less complicated'and a more easily adjusted rotary switch than is provided by the priorart, such as the switch illustrated in the Krug patent. Specifically,only a single commutator disc is required as opposed to a pair ofcommutatordiscs. It is not necessary to provide a complex movement ofone disc with respectto another disc to increase or decrease the size ofthe stop space.All that is requiredis an uncomplicated lateral movementof a guide block bracketwith respect to a guide block. Preferably, thismovement is provided by a singlepositioning screw that rotatably, butfixedly, attached to the guide block bracket. The positioning screwmoves into and out of the guide block to provide the desired movement ofthe guide block bracket with respect to the guide block. Hence, thisinvention provides a less complex and more easily adjusted rotary switchthan is provided in the prior art. Further, because the switch is lesscomplex, it is more economical to manufacture. Y

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects and many of theattendant advantages of this invention will become more readilyappreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a face view of the conductive surface of one commutator discsuitable for use in the invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a face view of the conductive surface of a second commutatordisc suitable for use in the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a side view of theswitch of the invention and generally comprises: a stud 11; a sprocket13; a guide block 15; a guide block bracket 17; a commutator disc 19; abrush holder 21; a collar 23; and a bracket 25. The stud has a lowerregion about which, as hereinafter described, the brush holder 21, thecollar 23, and. the bracket 25 are mounted for non-rotation and an upperregion about which the commutator disc 19, the guide block bracket 17,the guide block 15, and the sprocket 13 rotate.

Starting at the lower end of the stud, the elements of the switch aremounted about the stud in the following manner. A lower nut 27, isattached to the stud 11. Located above the lower nut 27 is a washer 29,and located above the washer 29, is a mounting bracket 25. The mountingbracket 25 has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration withoutwardly extending arms. Preferably, holes extend through the arms sothat the mounting bracket can be mounted on any. suitable supportmember.

Located above the bracket 25 is the collar 23 and located above thecollar 23 is the brush holder 21. A plurality of brushes 31 extendthrough the brush holder 21, however, .for purposes of clarity only twobrushes are illustrated in FIG. 1. Preferably, the brush holder isformed of a sheet of dielectric material.

The brushes 31 that extend through the brush holder 21 from one surfaceto the other have pointed but slightly fiat upward ends and fiat lowerends. Preferably, the brushes have cylindrical cross-sectionalconfigurations, however, they can be square or can have any otherregular cross-sectional configuration as desired. One end of a surved,metal spring 33 presses against the fiat lower ends of the brushes 31 toforce them upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 1. The other end of thecurved spring is attached to the brush holder 21 by a cap screw 35. At-

tached by the cap screw 35 to the curved spring is a metal terminal 37.The curved spring is separated from the brush holder 21 by a washer 39.

Mounted above the brush holder 21 about the stud 11 is a first washer 41and above the first washer 41 is a retaining ring 43 mounted in a groovein stud 11. The lower nut presses the brush holder 21, the collar 23 andthe bracket 25 against the retaining ring 43 so that they do not rotateabout the stud.. Mounted above the retaining ring 43 is the commutatordisc 19. Located on the lower surface of the commutator disc 19 are aplurality of electrical conductors of various configurations. Thelocation and shape of two preferred conductor configurations areillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and hereinafter discussed.

Mounted above the commutator disc 19 and fixedly attached thereto is theguide block bracket 17. The guide block bracket 17 is preferably formedof a flat piece of sheet metal and has an upwardly extending arm 45illustrated in FIG. 1. The guide block bracket 17 is fixedly attached tothe commutator disc 19 by a plurality of cap bolts 47. Mounted above theguide block bracket and in an aperture 46 (FIG. 2) in the guide blockbracket is the guide block 15. The guide block is a generally blockshaped element preferably formed of a reasonably hard metal or plasticmaterial. The aperture 46 in the guide block bracket 17 is large enoughto allow the guide block bracket to move back and forth (laterally) withrespect to the guide block for the hereinafter described purpose.

Extending through an aperture in the arm of the guide block bracket 17is an adjustment bolt 49. The adjustment bolt screws into threadslocated in the left side of the guide block 15 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and2. The adjustment bolt 49 is held fixed in the aperture in the arm ofthe guide block bracket 17 by a washer 51 and a retaining ring 52. Theretaining ring 52 fits into a groove in the adjustment bolt 49. A washershaped spring 54 is mounted between the head of the adjustment bolt andthe arm 45. However, the adjustment bolt is rotatable in the aperture.Hence, as the bolt 49 is turned, it forces the guide block bracket 17 tomove forward or backward with respect to the guide block 15 dependingupon the direction of turning. It should be noted from FIG. 1 that thebottom portion of the guide block 15 is separated from the commutatordisc 19 by a slight amount. This slight amount provides freedom ofmovement be tween the guide block 15 and the commutator disc when theadjustment bolt 49 is turned.

Mounted above the guide block 15 and fixedly attached thereto by aplurality of bolts 53 illustrated in FIG. 2 is the sprocket 13. It is tobe understood that the sprocket is driven by the motor that moves thetrays of the contlnuous orbit of travel filing cabinet so that there issynchronization between the movement of the commutator disc and thetrays. Located above the sprocket 13 is a washer 55 pressed against thesprocket by a nut 57 threaded onto the stud 11.

By mounting the elements of the switch in the foregoing manner, thecommutator disc is rotatable with respect to the brush holder. Inaddition, the lateral location of the commutator disc with respect tothe brush holder can be varied by the co-action between the guide blockbracket and the guide block.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate commutator discs suitable for use in theembodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably,the discs are formed of a substrate of nonconductive insulating materialare electrically conductive patterns of the type illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4 are formed onto one surface of the substrate. These conductivepatterns may be formed by vacuum depositing a conductive layer onto thesurface of the substrate, for example. Thereafter, a conventional photoengraving-etching procedure is used to remove undesired metal areas andform the resultant pattern. Finally, in-

sulating regions are formed in predetermined areas between portions ofthe conductive pattern.

The commutator disc illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a flat, circularsubstrate 61. Outer and inner ring shaped, electrically conductivepatterns 63 and 65 are formed on one surface of the substrate 61. Theconductive patterns are raised above the surface of the substrate. Theouter edge of the outer pattern 63 and the inner edge of the innerpattern 65 are both circular and axially aligned with the center of thecircular substrate 61. In addition, the outer edge of the outer patternis separated from the outer edge of the substrate by a narrow, circularinsulating band 62 and the inner edge of the inner pattern is separatedfrom the center of the substrate by a rather large insulating area 64.Both the circular insulating band 67 and the large insulating area 64are portions of the substrate 61 where the pattern metal has beenremoved.

Upper and lower (as viewed in FIG. 3) semicircular ring shapedseparating regions 66 and 67, where the conductive metal has beenremoved, separate the inner and outer patterns. The upper separatingregion 66 has a greater radius from the center of the substrate 61 thanthe lower separating region 67. In addition, the upper separating regionextends though slightly less than 180.

Connecting the upper and lower separating regions 66 and 67 are rightand left separating regions. The right separating region as viewed inFIG. 3 is a rather thin separating region filled with an insulatingmaterial 68. The left separating region is an outwardly extending V-shaped region also filled with an insulating material 69. The insulatingmaterials 68 and 69 are added to raise the left and right separatingregions to the level of the metallic conductors so that brush passageover the right and left insulating regions is smooth.

An aperture 70 passes through the center of the substrate 61 of thecommutator disc illustrated in FIG. 3. It is through this aperture thatthe stud 11 passes. The aperture 70 is long and has semi-circular endsso that the commutator disc can be moved back and forth as the guideblock moves back and forth in the manner heretofore described.Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the aperture 70 is coincident withthe longitudinal axis of the V-shaped insulating region on the left ofFIG. 3.

It will be appreciative that as the commutator disc is moved back andforth by the guide block-guide block bracket action, the points wherethe brushes 31 contact the surface of the commutator ring vary. It isthis variation that creates switch adjustment. Specifically, as thebrushes move back and forth relative to the commutator disc, the pointof crossing the V-shaped insulating region 69, When the commutator discrotates, changes. Because f this change, the length of insulating regionover which the brush must pass changes. It is this variation in stopspace length that varies the cyclic point of motor turn off to allow thecoasting distance to be adjusted when the switch is incorporated in acontinuous orbit of travel file cabinet. That is, the point of brushcontact with the insulating region is related to the turn off point ofthe driving motor. And the turn off point of the driving motor controlstray. Finally, because tray coasting is related to the alignment of thetrays in the access opening, the V-shaped insulating region controls thealignment of the trays in the access opening. Hence, by varying thepoint of contact between the brush and the commutator disc, trayalignment adjustment is provided.

FIG. 4 illustrates a commutator disc having an alternative conductivepattern suitable for use in the invention. The substrate 71 of thecommutator disc illustrated in FIG. 4 is fiat and circular. Outer,center, and inner cylindrical conductive patterns 73, 75, and 77 arelocated on the surface of the substrate. The outer conductive pattern 73is separated from the edge of the substrate by a narrow insulating band74, and the center conductive pattern 75 is separated from the outerconductive pattern 73 by a narrow insulating band 76. The innerconductive pattern 77 is separated from the center conductive pattern bya 6 narrow insulating ring 78, and from the center of the disc by alarge circular insulating region 79. Hence, all three patterns areco-axial but separated. All three insulating rings 74, 7'6, and 78 andthe circular insulating region 79 are portions of the substrate 71 fromwhich metal pattern material has been removed.

The inner and outer patterns are continuous. However, the center patternis split on the left and on the right as viewed in FIG. 4 to form twosemicircular portions. The upper portion is slightly less than 180 andthe lower portion is slightly greater than 180. The right split israther thin and is filled with an insulating material 81 to raise thesplit to the level of the conductive pattern. The left split is anoutwardly extending V-shaped split that is also filled with aninsulating material 83 to raise the split to the level of the conductivepatterns. As with FIG. 3 the insulating materials 81 and 83 are merelyadded so that the brushes pass over the splits in a smooth manner.Smoothness is desired because it prevents brush wear and undesirablearcing.

As with FIG. 3, the commutator disc in FIG. 4 has a long aperture 85with semicircular ends. The aperture allows the disc to fit over thestud 11 and be moved back and forth. Preferably, the longitudinal axisof the aperture 85 is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the V-shaped insulating region. As with the embodiment of FIG. 3 the V-shapedelement of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 allows the switch stopspace to be adjusted.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that a ratheruncomplicated switching apparatus is provided. Rather than moving onedisc with respect to another to adjust the stop space when a switch isutilized in a continuous orbit of travel filing cabinet mechanism, onlythe simple adjustment of moving a commutator disc back and forth withrespect to a brush holder is required. Hence, the invention is lesscomplicated to adjust than prior art inventions. In addition, the use ofa single commutator disc as opposed to a pair of commutator discs makesthe invention more economical than prior art inventions of the typeillustrated in U.S. Patent 3,198,894.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art and others that thelocation of the conducting patterns illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 ismerely illustrative. Various other conductive configurations can beutilized as determined by the system in which the invention is to beused. Hence, the invention can be practiced otherwise than inspecifically described herein.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable rotary switch comprising:

a stud having a longitudinal axis;

a brush holder mounted on said stud;

a plurality of brushes held in said brush holder and extending outwardlyfrom one side of said brush holder;

a commutator disc mounted on said stud for rotation with respect to saidbrush holder;

a conductive pattern located on the face of said commutator disc;

said conductive pattern facing and being in contact with the brushes ofsaid brush holder; and

an adjustment means for laterally moving said commutator disc withrespect to the longitudinal axis of said stud so that the point ofcontact between said brushes and said conductive pattern can be varied.

2. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portionof said conductive pattern is broken by a V-shaped insulating region.

3. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidV-shaped insulating region extends outwardly from the center of saidcommutator disc.

4. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidV-shaped insulating region is raised to the level of the conductivepattern.

5. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 4, including a secondregion of insulating material located on the face of said commutatordisc at a point approximately diametrically opposed to said V-shapedinsulating region.

6. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein saidcommutator disc has a long aperture having semicircular ends formed inits center through which said stud passes and wherein the longitudinalaxis of said V-shaped insulating region is coincident with thelongitudinal axis of said aperture. 7

7. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidconductive pattern comprises two conductive regions formed of continuousring-shaped sections, said V-shaped insulating region separating saidsections at a predetermined point. a

8. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein saidconductive patterns comprises three ringshaped regions, two of saidring-shaped regions being continuous and the third ring-shaped regionbeingbroken at one point by said V-shaped insulating region and atanother point by said second insulating region.

9. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidadjustment means comprises:

a guide block fixedly but rotatably attached to said stud;

a guide block bracket mounted on said disc so as to co-act with saidguide block; and,

means to vary the lateral relationship between said guide block and saidguide block bracket.

10. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 9, wherein saidmeans to vary the relationship between said guide block and said guideblock bracket comprises an adjustment screw that is fixed to, butrotatably mounted in said guide block bracket and turns into threadslocated in said guide block.

11. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim '10, including asprocket rotatably mounted on said stud and fixedly attached to saidguide block.

12. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 11, wherein aportion of said conductive pattern is broken by a V-shaped insulatingregion 13. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 12, whereinsaid V-shaped insulating region extends outwardly from the center ofsaid commutator disc.

14. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 13,

wherein said V-shaped insulating region is raised to the level oftheconductive pattern. 15; An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim14, including a second region of insulating material located on the faceof said commutator disc at a point approximately diametrically opposedto said V-shaped insulating region. I

16. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 15, wherein saidcommutator disc has a long aperture having semicircular ends formed inits center through which said stud passes and wherein the longitudinalaxis of said V- shaped insulating region is coincident with thelongitudirial axis of said aperture.

v 17. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 16, wherein saidconductive pattern comprises two conductive regions formed of continuousring-shaped sections, said V-shaped insulating region separating saidsections 'at a predetermined point.

18. An adjustable rotary switch as claimed in claim 16, wherein saidconductive patterns comprises three ringshaped regions, two of saidring-shaped regions being continuous and the third ring-shaped regionbeing broken at one point by said V-shaped insulating region and atanother point by said second insulating region.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,198,894 8/1965 Krug 200-14 XRROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner Us.c1. X.R. 200-11, 11

